The U.S. Department of Energy has extended the application deadline for the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Recovery Act: Large Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility” from August 6 to August 25, 2009. The funding announcement, DE-FOA-0000112, posted on June 23, 2009, states that DOE will provide $45 million for the development of a dynamometer and facility to ensure the performance, durability, and reliability of utility-scale wind turbine drivetrain systems.

This single $45 million financial assistance grant will be awarded on a competitive basis to assist in the design and construction of an accredited dynamometer testing facility capable of performing Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) of 5-MW to15-MW-rated wind turbine drivetrains and generators and the operation and maintenance of these facilities for the benefit of wind stakeholders nationwide. Each application must include organizational participants from a state(s) and university(ies) and a plan for achieving long-term sustainable operation and maintenance and funding without future DOE assistance.

The $45 million in DOE funds will be provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to preserve and create jobs, promote economic recovery, and provide investments needed to increase wind energy R&D.

Only those applicants who submitted a letter of intent are eligible to submit final applications under this announcement. Letters of intent were due by July 22, 2009, and FOA applications are due by August 25, 2009.